Contact: Kara O’Keeffe
Kara.okeeffe@wisconsinhistory.org
608-261-9596

Manitowoc, Wis. – On Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, the Wisconsin Historical Society will be holding a listening session in Manitowoc to get thoughts and ideas from the community and to share design concepts for a new, modern, state history museum on Wisconsin’s Capitol Square in Madison. The goal of these sessions is to get feedback from educators, families, business leaders, and every sector of the public.

“The new state history museum will be about more than bricks and mortar, it will connect to and tell the stories of Wisconsinites from all 72 counties,” said Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “The input we receive at these public workshops will help shape future exhibits and storylines.”

The event will be held at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, 75 Maritime Dr. Manitowoc, WI 54220 on Thursday, Nov. 8 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The evening will start with light refreshments and an introduction to the new museum project. Manitowoc County Historical Society and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum are the local partners for the event.

During these sessions, guests will have the opportunity to share feedback on current design concepts and share their thoughts on “What makes Wisconsin, Wisconsin.” This is an opportunity for the public to be a part of this process and to provide their vision of how a new state history museum can represent their community and the state to create relevant stories that have local significance and national impact.

Maritime Archaeologists, Tamara Thomsen and Victoria Kiefer with the Wisconsin Historical Society’s State Historic Preservation Office will also attend the event to share information about the underwater archaeology program and highlight examples of the long-standing partnership with the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

“We are excited for our community to have a voice in the plans for a new Wisconsin history museum,” said Amy Meyerexecutive directorManitowoc County Historical Society. “Our area has a rich history and we are proud to share it and bring some of our stories to be told in the new museum.”

The Wisconsin Historical Society is traveling across the state to hold over 30 Statewide Engagement events, including 19 public community events and 14 American Indian nation over the next year. All sessions are free and open to the public. Guests can pre-register and find an event close to them at wihist.org/yourvoice.

“As we hold more listening workshops across the state it is important for us to be inclusive and understand what types of stories and programs our guests would like in the new history museum,” Overland continued.  “We also want to understand how we can better serve our audiences in their towns and cities because we feel that everyone should feel welcomed in this museum, whether they visit in person or participate digitally.”

The Wisconsin Historical Society has been working towards building a new $120 million, 100,000-square-foot museum for more than 20 years. The new museum will more than double exhibition space, and include state-of-the-art technology while providing learning, meeting and flexible spaces. The new museum will reach and connect people all across the state through distance learning technology and exciting, modern exhibits.

For more information on the Wisconsin Historical Society visit wisconsinhistory.org.

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